Utah governor rejects full Medicaid expansion

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Utah governor rejects full Medicaid expansion
By MICHELLE L. PRICE, Associated Press | February 27, 2014 | Updated: February 27, 2014 7:27pm

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah's Republican governor announced Thursday he wants to reject a full Medicaid expansion that would enroll more people in the government program, and instead seek federal dollars to cover the poor in private plans.

Gov. Gary Herbert's decision came after months of pushing back an announcement, making him one of the last governors in the country to announce his intentions about expanding Medicaid.

Herbert, like many Republican governors, is opposed to President Barack Obama's health law but has said the state has an obligation to help the poor.

"If the federal government will just block grant us the money, take away the strings and give us maximum flexibility, we will find innovative ways to do things better," Herbert said.

About 60,000 Utah residents are not covered by Medicaid or eligible for federal subsidies to pay for private insurance.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/medical/article/Utah-governor-rejects-full-Medicaid-expansion-5274224.php

[lovemydog]

1. Sorry Governor,

your proposal runs contrary to the Affordable Care Act. Federal law preempts State law.

[Bill76]

8. That's not how it works.

The ACA allows states to choose whether to raise medicaid payments to the level of medicare. That is part of the federal law.

[defacto7]

2. No surprise here.

The purgatorial state of Utah. That's here.

60,000 Utah residents are not covered by Medicaid or eligible for federal subsidies to pay for private insurance

But if they're Mormons their medical needs are covered if they can't afford it. They're covered by the church birth to grave as long as they pay their tithe and are in good standing with the church. It's the gentiles (non-Mormons) that will suffer from Herbert not expanding Medicaid. In Utah, it's always about the bridge between church and state.

[SoapBox]

6. Exactly.

[SmittynMo]

3. We will find innovative ways to do things better?

Typical republicant. No plan? No idea of how we'll do it? IE: We have a jobs bill, but don't have a clue as to what it is, or how to implement it. I trust these bastards about as far as I can throw my house.

[eilen]

4. There is always someone who wants to rewrite the rules and set their own terms.

Sorry Utah, my federal dollars are not coming to you in the form of a blank check. I don't trust you.

[SoapBox]

5. OK! Then let, no MAKE, the Mormon Cult take care of everyone.

They own and control the Stae of Utah lock, stock and barrel...make them do it.

[jsr]

7. Governor to poor Utahns: Die now and get baptized

[geomon666]

9. Fuck off and die poor people!

Say it Herbert, you know you want to.